Donald Trump has spurred the US House of Representatives to begin voting on the Laken Riley Act, a bill aimed at expanding pre-trial incarceration for foreign criminal suspects.
The legislation, named after a 22-year-old student murdered by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, seeks to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related crimes.
According to newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, the bill which is motivated by Donald Trump is a key part of the Republican Party’s efforts to address border security concerns.
Johnson emphasized that border security is a top priority for voters and that the current situation is “an absolute disaster” due to the policies of the past four years.
The Laken Riley Act has already passed the House once before but was stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
However, with the Senate now under Republican control, the bill is expected to receive a vote as early as Friday.
To pass, it will require at least eight Democratic votes, but it may face opposition from Democrats despite being co-sponsored by Senator John Fetterman.
The bill is part of a broader push by the Republican Party to crack down on immigration, with President-elect Donald Trump promising “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country” during his campaign.
Trump is set to be sworn in on January 20 and has already begun making moves to restrict immigration, including plans to limit visas for refugees and tech workers.
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